Melanie Hayden Zeller

God's precious creation. That is what I was honored to be a part of early Sunday morning. I had the privilege to witness and photograph the birth of a sweet baby girl named Melanie. Her parents, John and Joy, are very special people and I know I will feel a deep connection to them for some time. There is something unexplainable about being invited to take part in someone else's delivery and birth. It's a trust and closeness that doesn't happen with very many things in life.

Joy went into labor late Saturday night ~ labored a little, slept a little, and labored some more. After a valiant effort by her Mommy (and Daddy!), little Melanie began her new life in this world at 7:24am on August 12, 2007. Her Mommy worked so hard and was such a trooper.

John and Joy hadn't quite decided on a name for their baby which they knew was a girl. They wanted to see her and then decide. Little Melanie takes the name of her Aunt Melanie, who was Joy's sister. Melanie and her two brothers were lost in an accident before Joy was born. What a tribute to someone whom Joy never even met. Her grandfather must be overjoyed and touched and looking forward to making new memories of his new little Melanie.

Thanks for changing all of our lives, little one.

See their slideshow here!